Diving apparatus.



F j 'PATENTED NOV. 13, 1906. T. IWANAML Ifivmer APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED MAR 26 1906 I 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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No. 835,950. PATENTEED Nov. 13 sbs.

T. IWANAMI. DIVING APPARATUS,

APPLIOATION FILED run. 26, 1906.

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19...? tangy?! UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

TAKAO IWANAMI, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR F ONE-HALF TO EDGAR M. COLUMBIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

GREENE, OF WASHINGTQN, DISTRICT OF DIVING APPARATUS.

Patented Nov. 18, 1906.

Application filed March 26, 1906. Serial No. 808,184.

- light andservicable a paratus adapted more especially for use in s allow water, the apparatus bein of such nature as to render the diver whol independent of any mechanical apparatus or supplying air.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mask or helmet of improved construction in which an air-inlet tube is so connected as to su ply air to the nostrils, while the air expelle from the lungs is directed through the mouth to a discharge-tube.

A'still further object of the invention is to provide an improved mask or helmet which may be readily applied to the face alone, if des1red, and whic will act to exclude water, and will effectually separate the inlet and disohar e tubes.

A sti further object of the invention is to provide a maskhaving a pneumatic cushioning-rin at the edge 0 the mask forthe purpose o excluding fluid and permitting the application of the mask to persons of different facial contour.

A still further object of the invention is to improve and simplify the construction of the tionto form perfectl divers suit by providing garment connec tions which may be readily applied or detached and which will operate when in posiwater-tight connections-between the various garments.

A still further object of the invention is to 1provide a novel form of air .suppl and exau'sting float designed to rest on t e surface of the Water, the float bein so constructed as to revent the entrance 0 water to either thei st or discharge tubes in case the water is rough or if the float be accidentally submerged.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a float which is free] open for the passage of air and in which al of the water that Ina enterwill be drained off and prevented o'm entering the float proper or the inlet orexhaust tubes.

A still further object of the invention is to structure m-a garment.

charge of vitiated air fromthe exhaust-tube without the aid of pumping or other mechanism which would require the work of an assist'ant. 1

With these and other objects in view', as will more fully hereinafter a pear, the'inventionconsists In certain nove features of construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in theappended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportions, size, and minor details of the be made'without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any'of the advantages of the invention. I.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is provide improved means for insuring the an elevation showing a divers suit and the airsupply and exhaust-float constructed and arranged in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the mask 'or helmet. Fig. 3 is a view looking'at the inner face of the mask, showing more particularly the pads which surroundth'enose .and separate the inlet and outlet ports of the mask. Fig. 4 is a face view 'of the mask. Fig. 5 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of the float. on an'enlarged scale,of a. portion of one of the garment connections, showing the same in o crating position. Fig. 7 is a similar view s owing the garment-c amping device open for the release or reception-of the edge of a mask or helmet, jshowing the neckband,

which is intended to fit t1 around the neck and exclude water'w' ere the mask or Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view,

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the helmet is used without the remaining por I tion of the diving-suit.

Similar numerals of reference are-employed to indicatecorrespondin parts throughout the several figures of the awings.

In carrying out the invention the mask or helmet 10 is formed of metal or other suitable material and is provided with transparent panels 11 in front of the eyes. The mask is intended to fit over the face of the diver,

and the edge of the mask carries a pneu- IOO matic ring 12 ,formed of rubber or other flexif ble material and provided with air-valve 15, which may be 0 ened.wh en the air-tube is to be inflated. 'Iliis pneumatic tube or ring IOS when pressed a ainst the face or head will act to exclude afl fluid and permits the application of the mask to persons of different facial contour. The mask is provided with rings or links 16 for the reception of headstra s, which may be employed to-fastenthe mas in place, or the pneumatic tube may be secured to a head-corveringor helmet pro er, 17,'as shown in Fig. 1, which is designe to completely inclose the head of the diver and afford protection'when working in deep water or in workin at low temperature. The mask is provide with a recess ,18 to receive the nose of'the diver, and this recess is surrounded by a marginal flange 19, that is de signed to entirely inclose the nose, the surface of the flange being provided with a flexi ble' covering or padding 20, which may be pressed firmly against the face without discomfort and which will serve to prevent the passage of any air from other portions of the mask to the nostrils. The recess 18 communicates with an air-supply pipe 22, which preferably is formed of metal and is provided with a shorter upper end 23, which may be connected toa flexible tube 24, that leads upward to the float.

The vitiated air is expelled through the mouth of the diver and passes through a discharge or exhaust pipe-25, that is provided at its upper end with a threaded portion 26' for connection to a flexible tube 27, that leads upward to the float. The 'lower front portion of the mask is rovided with a duct or chamber 28 in whic the moisture from the air' may be collected, the lower end of the chamber having an opening that is normally closed by a threaded plug 29.

The divers suit comprises a mask or helmet 17, a shirt or similar garment 31, and trousers 32, and the garments are referabl formed of some flexible waterproofma-teria At the waistband of the trousers and at the Fig; 6, the joint formed bein To open the clampin -band, th

neck portion of the shirt are arranged clamps for holding the shirt and helmet, respectively. These clam s are of the. construction' bestshown in igs. 6 and 7, and each comprises a spring-metal band 33,- that i s in-' serted in .the edge of the garment, said band belng of approximately sigmoidal form in cross-section and comprising an inner arm 34, an outer arm 35, and a central arm'36. The lower edge of the shirt or helmet is arranged for insertion between the arms 35 and 36, and the arm 36 is so constructed as to clampfirmly against the inserted arment and old'the same in the manner s own in waterproof. e outer portron" 35' is cut away, ormlng a recess, from each wall of which extends a'screw 37, the screws bein provided with ri ht and left hand'th'reaci, respectively, an bein 'con- 1 wasted by a turnbuckle 38 or like mem er, so

'mately globular vessel, preferably constructed of sheet metal and having a circular keelpiece 41, which will act to steady the float in the water, and dependin fromthe float and keel-piece is a cylindrica chamber 42, which tends to lower the center of gravity. The float proper is divided into upper and lower sections 44 and 45 that are riveted or otherwise secured to each other, the to of the section 45 being open to permit the so passage of 'air. The top of the section 44 is bent inward to form a frusto-conical partition 46', which acts as a watershed to direct any water which may enter at the open top of the float outwardthrough drainage-opemngs 47', the latter being dis osed some distance above the water-line of t e float. The irmerupper end of the partitionv 46 is turned upward to form an annular flan e48, over which ex tends a fluted conica deflector 49-, that is supported by hooks 50, extending from the flange 48 and outer hanger-strips 51, which depend from the edge oft c section 4'5 of the float.

The air-inlet tube 53, which is formed of metal within the body of the float and is provided with a threaded lower end for connecwith a curved upper end which extends over the flange 48 into position beneath the deflector 49, and the upper section 55 of-the exhaust-tube is also bent over the flange 48.

The construction and arrangement of the float is such that in case of rough water and the splashing of any of the Water over the edge of the section 45 such water will-be di- -rected by the partition 46 thro h the discharge-openings 47. Should the at be accidentally submerged, the lower edge of the deflector 49 will coact with the flange. 48 to form a sealing-trap that will revent the entrance of water to the body 0 the float or'to the air-tubes, and when the float emerges the water will flow off throughthe drainage openings 4.7.

The outer end of the flexible-discha-r etube 27 is connected to thelower threafed end of a discharge-tube section 57, that extends upward. into a casing 58, the latter formin the lower enlarged end of the section 55 "of to exhaust-tube' This casing 58 is arranged to contain a sponge or other absorbent 59, that is disposed well below the u per end of the discharge-tube 57, and this absorbent is saturated with some volatile liquid, such as ether, which by evaporation will induce the flow of air u ward thro the discha e-tube, so the vitiated air-will e withdrawn om the mask and wi-l-l'not be reh i t tion with The casing 58 is in communication with a fil -tube 60, through which the volatile 1i ui may beintroduced.

'Ihe mask or helmet is so constructed as to permit its use without the employment of the remaining portion of the diving-suit, and in Fig. 8 there is shown a depen ing neckpiece 70, formed of flexible material and arranged to fit tightly around the neck for the p ose of excluding water.

e diving apparatus described is of es.- pecial value m comparatively shallow water, although it may be used in water of any depth, being of suflicient stren th to resist the pressure. The diver is ren ered wholly independent of an assistant and may cover lar e areas without the attendant air-pump an "boat which must be employed in connecan ordinary diving-suit. I claim 1. A divers mask or helmet having nose and'mouth recesses, a padded partition separating said recesses from -eac other, there being an air-inlet port leading to the noserecess and an air-outlet port leading from the mouth-recess, and a receiving duct or chambe'r extending downward from the mouth-recess at a pointbelow the outlet-port for catching the moisture from exhaled air.

2'; A divers mask or helmet having a moisture-receiving chamber at a point below the air-discharge connection. 3. A divers mask or helmet having a moisture-receiving cup at its lower front portion, and a removable drain-plug for closing the bottom of said cup.

4. In diving apparatus, an air-supply float comprising an approximately globular casing havin an open top, an inclined artition dispose within the casing, the atter having water-drainage openings at the bottom of the partition, a deflector extending over the upper open top of the partition, and air-tubes terminating under said deflector.

5. In diving apparatus, an air-Suppl float having an open top and provided wit water-drainage openings at a point above the water-line, an inclined partition for directing the water through such openings, the upper ortion' of the artition being extended to orm a vertical ange, a conical deflector extending over said flange, and disposed within the open top of the casing, and air-tubes extending over the flange.

6. In diving apparatus, an air -su'pply float having an open top, air-tubes extending through the float and terminating below such open top, and a deflector extending over the tops of the tubes.

7. In diving apparatus, an air supply float, air-tubes extending therethrough, and

means for producing within the exhaust-tube an upcurrent of fluid in addition to the upflowing current of vitiated air.

8. In a paratus of the class described, a tube for the discharge of exhaled air, and a chamber in communication with the tube and arranged to contain a body of material which by evaporation will induce 'an updraft in said tube.

9. In ap aratus of the class described, an exhaust-tube for exhaled air, said tube being iormedin sections that communicate with each other, the lower end of one of said sections being enlarged to form an absorbentreceiving chamber, and an absorbent arranged within the chamber and arranged to receive a volatile liquid.

10. In apparatus of the class described, a tube for thepassage of exhaled air, and avolatile-liquid-containing chamber in communication therewith.

11. In diving apparatus, a garment-connecting means including a continuous contractile ring arran ed at the edge of one garment, and adapts to engage with and clamp with the edge of another garment.

12. In diving apparatus, a garment-connecting means including a continuous ring bent to approximately sigmoidal form in crosssection, two of the walls of such ring or band forming a garment-engaging clamp.

' 13. In diving a paratus, a garment-connecting means inc uding a continuous band or ring of approximately si moidal form in cross-section, two of the Wa ls of the ring or band forming a clamp, and means for con-' tracting a portion of the outer wall to thereby separate the central and inner walls from each other.

14. In diving apparatus, garment-connecting means including a continuous ring or band of approximately sigmoidal form in cross-section, the two inner walls of the ring or bandfor'ming a garment-en aging clamp, and a portion of the outer wall of said band being recessed, right and left hand screws extending from the walls of the recess, and a right and left hand nut or turnbuckle connecting the screws and serving as a means for contracting the outer wall of the band to thereby separate the central and inner walls from each other.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

1 TAKAO IWANAMI. Witnesses: I

E. HUME TALBERT,

E. D. MAXWELL. 

